Franklin Dean
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding in 2018 was a grand affair, with 600 guests in attendance and nearly 2 billion viewers worldwide. The event was a blend of tradition and modernity, with a carriage procession through Windsor, a ceremony presided over by the Archbishop of Canterbury, and a sermon by the first black presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, quoting Martin Luther King Jr. Notable guests included Oprah Winfrey, George and Amal Clooney, Serena Williams, and Sir Elton John. Among the foreign royal guests were Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, Harry's friend and co-founder of the charity Sentebale, and his wife, Princess Mabereng. Despite the presence of some foreign royalty, the wedding notably excluded politicians, ambassadors, and foreign heads of state, marking a departure from traditional royal nuptials.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding | May 19, 2018 |
| Number of guests | 600 |
| Number of members of the public invited | 2,000 |
| Number of global viewers | Nearly 2 billion |
| Notable guests | Oprah Winfrey, George and Amal Clooney, Serena Williams, Sir Elton John, Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, Princess Mabereng, Sir John Major |
| Family members in attendance | Prince William, Prince Charles, Doria Ragland, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip |
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What You'll Learn
- Foreign royalty: Prince Seeiso of Lesotho and Princess Mabereng attended
- Politicians: no politicians or ambassadors were present
- Celebrities: Oprah Winfrey, George and Amal Clooney, Serena Williams
- Pageantry: 600 guests, 2 receptions, carriage procession
- Ceremony: presided over by Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby
Foreign royalty: Prince Seeiso of Lesotho and Princess Mabereng attended
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding on May 19, 2018, was a grand affair with about 600 guests in attendance and nearly 2 billion viewers worldwide. The couple's wedding marked a new, modern era for the British royal family, as Markle was the first biracial and divorced woman to marry into the family.
Among the 600 guests were foreign royal guests, including Prince Seeiso of Lesotho and his wife, Princess Mabereng. Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso are friends and co-founded the charity Sentebale, which helps AIDS-stricken orphans in Lesotho. The couple also invited 2,640 members of the public to Windsor Castle for the wedding and gifted them commemorative gift bags.
The wedding ceremony was held in St. George's Chapel within the grounds of Windsor Castle. The bride, Meghan Markle, wore a white boat-neck dress by British designer Clare Waight Keller, the first female designer of the French fashion house Givenchy. The groom wore the frock coat uniform of the Household Cavalry (the “Blues and Royals”). Harry’s brother, Prince William, served as best man, while Markle chose not to have a maid of honour.
The wedding was officiated by Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, using the standard Anglican church service for Holy Matrimony. The ceremony was noted for its inclusion of African-American culture. The flowers were chosen by the groom, who handpicked forget-me-nots in honour of his late mother, Princess Diana. Following the ceremony, there was a carriage procession through Windsor, and two wedding receptions were held.
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Politicians: no politicians or ambassadors were present
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding in May 2018 was a grand affair, with 600 guests in attendance and a television audience of nearly 2 billion people worldwide. The event was marked by the inclusion of African-American culture and was seen as a sign of the British royal family entering a new, modern era.
The guest list included foreign royalty, such as Prince Seeiso of Lesotho and his wife, Princess Mabereng, as well as celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, George and Amal Clooney, Serena Williams, and Sir Elton John, who also performed at the reception.
However, notably absent from the guest list were politicians, ambassadors, and foreign heads of state. The only exception to this was former Prime Minister Sir John Major, who was a special guardian to Princes William and Harry. This absence of political figures may have been a deliberate choice by the couple, reflecting their desire to keep the event focused on their personal connections and celebrating their love story.
The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was a significant event that brought together a diverse array of guests, with the notable exception of politicians and ambassadors, reflecting the couple's unique position as members of the royal family with a modern outlook.
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Celebrities: Oprah Winfrey, George and Amal Clooney, Serena Williams
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey attended Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding in a blush pink Stella McCartney dress with lace trim. She arrived arm in arm with Idris Elba, wearing a dramatic hat with a feather flourish. Winfrey arrived early to St. George's Cathedral at Windsor Castle to find her seat in the pews.
George and Amal Clooney
George and Amal Clooney attended the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at Windsor Castle. Amal wore a marigold yellow dress with a matching hat, while George wore a dark grey suit with a pale pink tie. The Clooneys were also among the 200 people invited to the private evening reception at Frogmore House.
Serena Williams
Serena Williams and her husband Alexis Ohanian attended the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at Windsor Castle in May 2018. Williams has a long-standing relationship with Meghan Markle.
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Pageantry: 600 guests, 2 receptions, carriage procession
The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on May 19, 2018, was a grand affair with 600 guests in attendance and two receptions held. The event was a spectacle of pageantry and tradition, with a carriage procession and a host of notable guests.
The ceremony took place in St. George's Chapel within the grounds of Windsor Castle. Meghan Markle, an American actress, wore a white boat-neck dress by British designer Clare Waight Keller, the first female designer of the French fashion house Givenchy. Prince Harry wore the frock coat uniform of the Household Cavalry ("Blues and Royals"). Breaking with tradition, Markle entered St. George's Chapel by herself and was met halfway down the aisle by Prince Charles.
The wedding ceremony was noted for its inclusion of African-American culture. The flowers were chosen by Prince Harry, who selected forget-me-nots in honour of his late mother, Princess Diana. The bridal bouquet was placed on the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior at Westminster Abbey, following royal tradition. The music played a significant role in the ceremony, with the Kingdom Choir gospel choir performing Ben E. King's "Stand by Me" and the civil rights anthem, "This Little Light of Mine."
Following the ceremony, the newlyweds participated in a carriage procession through Windsor. Two receptions were held, with the first hosted by the Queen in St. George's Hall after the procession. Singer Elton John performed for the guests, and both the groom and the Prince of Wales gave speeches. The second reception, hosted by the Prince of Wales, took place later in the day at Frogmore House for family and close friends. Meghan Markle wore a halter-neck, open-back dress by Stella McCartney and an emerald-cut aquamarine ring that once belonged to Princess Diana.
Notable guests at the wedding included foreign royalty, such as Prince Seeiso of Lesotho and his wife, Princess Mabereng, who co-founded a charity with Prince Harry. Other guests included Oprah Winfrey, George and Amal Clooney, Serena Williams, and Sir Elton John. The wedding was a significant event, with nearly 2 billion people worldwide watching the televised ceremony.
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Ceremony: presided over by Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby
The wedding ceremony of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was presided over by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, on 19 May 2018. The Archbishop used the standard Anglican church service for Holy Matrimony, published in Common Worship, a liturgical text of the Church of England.
The wedding ceremony was held in St. George's Chapel, located within the grounds of Windsor Castle. The bride, Meghan Markle, walked into the chapel by herself, breaking from tradition. She was met halfway down the aisle by Prince Charles, the future king of Britain.
The groom, Prince Harry, wore the frock coat uniform of the Household Cavalry ("Blues and Royals"), in which he served for 10 years, including two tours of duty to Afghanistan. Markle wore a white boat-neck dress designed by British designer Clare Waight Keller, the first female designer of the French fashion house Givenchy.
The wedding ceremony was followed by a carriage procession through Windsor. Two receptions were held, the first of which was hosted by the Queen in St George's Hall after the procession. Singer Elton John performed for the guests, and the groom and the Prince of Wales each gave a speech.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, foreign royal guests at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding included Prince Seeiso of Lesotho and his wife, Princess Mabereng.
The wedding was attended by 600 guests, including Oprah Winfrey, George and Amal Clooney, Serena Williams, Sir Elton John, and former Prime Minister Sir John Major.
There were no politicians, ambassadors, or foreign heads of state at the wedding apart from Sir John Major.
